Issue 113

 

LI and LIBSEEN host leadership Conference in Romania

Ahead of the upcoming Romanian Parliamentary Elections, LIBSEEN, a liberal network in South-Eastern Europe, held a Conference on 15 November in Bucharest. Opening the event, co-organised by Liberal International, Partidul National Liberal (PNL) and the Dutch liberal party (VVD), Romanian's Prime Minister and PNL leader, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu stressed the important role played by liberals in the financial crisis. “Most countries in Europe and worldwide are concerned with the actions that have to be taken to solve the crisis. In this sense, we as liberals have to stand up now when there are tendencies to re-introduce protectionist systems and to return to strong guidance.” At the press conference, LI Deputy President Hans van Baalen underlined the crucial role of liberals in the region. 'Liberal parties in South Eastern European have been leading and courageous in the dialogue and accession procedures within the European Union. Our international bonds with them have always been based on strong solidarity and trust and they are only getting stronger.'  Among the liberal leaders present were Annemie Neyts Uyttebroeck, ELDR President, Vesna Pusic, LIBSEEN Chairwoman from HNS (Croatia), Cedomir Jovanovic, leader of LDP (Serbia) and Lamija Tanovic, leader of LDS (Bosnia-Herzegovina). LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas and political advisor Jochem de Groot also attended the conference.

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VVD Congress looks towards the European Elections

LI full-member VVD from the Netherlands gathered for its fall Congress in Rotterdam last weekend. LI Deputy President, Hans van Baalen, MP for the VVD parliamentary group and recently elected to lead the party in the 2009 European elections, delivered a keynote speech regarding his aspirations for the European campaign, unveiling that free market and security will be VVD's central themes in the campaign. “We are not a party that will now suddenly start to act fashionably against the free market”, said Mr. Van Baalen. The congress was also an opportunity for party members to vote on the European election's programme, which was drafted by a Committee chaired by former LI President and VVD leader, Frits Bolkestein. Throughout the voting, an amendment to exclude Turkey from potential EU membership was rejected by a large majority. VVD leader Mark Rutte successfully defended his draft of a new Declaration of Principles for the party. During the Congress, LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas met with VVD members of the Dutch and the European Parliament as well the party' s international team.

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South African DA declares it governmental ambitions

On 15 November, the Democratic Alliance (DA) of South Africa launched a new campaign stating its ambitions to become a party that will only not only govern South Africa's towns and cities by 2011, but may soon join South Africa's government. DA leader and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille unveiled a new logo and delivered a speech highlighting the changes in the party. “What we have unveiled here today is not just a new logo, a different look. This is not a marketing exercise. It's much, much more than that. It's our promise - a promise that we will deliver on the South African dream for the rainbow people. We signal here today a new approach - to South Africa, to the voters, to the future. There will be a new offer; a new style of campaigning; a new determination to address the injustices and transcend the racial divisions of our country's past.” In November 2009, the DA will host the 56th Congress of the Liberal International in Cape Town. 

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Yabloko strongly protests Russian constitutional amendments

Russian MP's have backed this week a bill that extends the term of the Russian President from four to six years, amidst speculation that Vladimir Putin will return to the presidency earlier than expected. LI full member Yabloko has strongly protested against this legislation. “An increase of the presidential term limit from four to six years is equivalent to a refusal of the basic democratic rule of governmental change. It will lead to the growth of bureaucratic supremacy and corruption in Russia. What we see now in Russia is the re-implementation of [Leonid] Brezhnev's lifelong government model which led the country to a deadlock in the 20th century and is now being implemented again in the 21st century…Yabloko supports the European model of government that dictates a continuing change in the government as one that is not simply the best, but the only strategic option for Russia,” said Sergey Mithrokin, Yabloko President. Mr. Putin became Prime Minister early this year after being constitutionally obliged to step down following his two consecutive presidential terms. 

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Concerns arise over the fate of democracy in Taiwan

Following a series of arrests and detainments of several former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members in the past month without charge, Taiwan's former President and LI Prize for Freedom laureate, Chen Shui-bian was detained on 12 November. An LI full-member, DPP has expressed their worries over Mr. Chen's detention. “It is regrettable that the due process of law has not been observed in the case of President Chen and that his human rights have been gravely violated.” In a joint statement, international academics also demonstrated their concern over Taiwan's democratic future. “The political neutrality of the judicial system is an essential element in a democracy...We believe that the procedures followed by the prosecutor's offices are severely flawed…This is a severe contravention of the writ of habeas corpus and a basic violation of due process, justice and the rule of law…We do not want to see Taiwan's hard-earned democracy jeopardized in this manner.” Mr. Chen, who has been accused of money laundring and illegal use of a presidential fund, is being held in incommunicado detention without charge.

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LDP Serbia Delegation at LI Headquarters

The Serbian Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which joined LI at the Belfast Congress, initiated the process of defining their long-term political strategy. As part of the procedure, they embarked on a series of consultancies with several LI member parties. During an event with the British Liberal Democrats in London, a delegation composed of LDP members from the Environment and the European Integration Committees visited the LI Headquarters. At the meeting with Emil Kirjas, Marko Vujacic and Vladimir Lukic expressed the party's aims. “LDP will continue to develop itself as the real European alternative in the Serbian political scene. Our messages will continue to be liberal, direct and clear. In order to succeed, the support of liberal sister parties is essential”. Both LDP and their leader Cedomir Jovanovic have been the subject of continuous intimidation and serious attacks in the aftermath of Kosovo's independence, earlier this year. They participate in the government of Serbia's capital of Belgrade.

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Llibertat I Democracia debates the current state of Liberalism

Upon invitation of the Catalan Group of Liberal International, foundation Llibertat I Democracia, Emil Kirjas addressed a debate entitled “Global State of Liberalism in 2008', in the Catalan capital Barcelona.  Organiased and chaired by Josep Soler, LI Treasurer, the event was attended by Juli Minoves, Vice-President on the LI Bureau and Vice-President of Partit Liberal D' Andorra (PLA), members of the Catalan Parliament as well as representatives of the Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya. 'Two recent events: the global financial crisis and the election of Barack Obama as the US President will strongly influence the liberal agenda in 2009 and the years to come. While the political elites will focus on addressing national economic problems, we should not turn a blind eye to what is happening in Nicaragua, DR Congo, Burma or Zimbabwe. We must look beyond political lines and recognise the countries that truly depend on our support” said Emil Kirjas, explaining the policies of LI and its leadership. A separate discussion on the work of LI worldwide was organised with prominent journalists based in Barcelona.

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RELIAL holds workshop on the fight against poverty

Red Liberal de America Latina (RELIAL) held from 11-15 November a workshop entitled “The Fight Against Poverty” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Key speakers at the event, which aimed to discuss viable ways to tackle poverty included RELIAL President, Otto Guevara Guth as well as several top representatives from the network. Simultaneously to the RELIAL workshop, the Economic Freedom Network held its Annual Conference under the theme “Freedom and private property”. The Brazilian city was also the host to the meeting of regional project directors from the LI cooperating organisation, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty. 

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